Prosecutors to summon film director for questioning

By Rich Chang / Staff reporter

At Taoyuan International Airport upon his return to Taiwan from Greece yesterday, film director Doze Niu apologizes to the public for having brought a Chinese cinematographer to the Zuoying naval base in Greater Kaohsiung last month.

Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times

The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said it would summon film director Doze Niu (鈕承澤) for questioning over an incident in which he allegedly allowed a Chinese citizen to use a fake ID card to enter a naval base in southern Taiwan on a location-scouting trip.

Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office spokeswoman Lu Hsing-ling (呂幸玲) said the Ministry of National Defense has filed a lawsuit against Niu and Chinese cinematographer Cao Yu (曹郁). The office said prosecutors would summon Niu, Cao and others for questioning after receiving a report from the ministry about the incident on Friday.

According to the navy, Niu and his production team visited the Zuoying (左營) naval base in Kaohsiung on June 1 to scout for locations for his new film. The group allegedly violated a regulation forbidding Chinese nationals from entering military facilities in Taiwan.

Military security officers at the base checked Cao’s ID, but later discovered that it belonged to a Taiwanese man, while Cao was a Chinese citizen, the navy said.

Major General Tsai Hung-tu (蔡鴻圖), a spokesman for Naval Fleet Command, said yesterday that on the day of the incident, Cao had only filmed a transportation and supply ship, which was not classified, and that he did not film other naval facilities.

“We merely wanted to pursue his violation of the Vital Area Regulations (要塞堡壘地帶法),” Tsai said.

Niu returned to Taipei from Greece late on Friday night and apologized again.

“I feel I need to clearly admit the mistake, apologize and face up to it. My reckless and rash behavior was responsible for the incident, for which I am very sorry,” Niu said after arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.